Bachelor of Arts in International Economics

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Friendly relationships between nations often rely on good trade relationships. Students with an interest in economics who want to prepare for a career in international finance, government, or business can earn their Bachelor of Arts in International Economics with Schiller International University.

Courses within the Bachelor of Arts in International Economics aim to produce graduates with technical knowledge and practical research and analysis skills. Courses cover issues including:

Economic Geography

Economy of Developing Countries

International Economic Policies & Institutions

Modern Diplomacy

Statistics

The Political Economy of North-South Relations

Business Administration

Students are also required to pursue education in a foreign language to at least an intermediate level.

Offered at the following campuses:
Heidelberg and Madrid

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS

The major in International Economics provides thorough training in economic theory and policy. While these studies examine the insights of economics from the individual and firm level, to the national, and then the international level, there is an emphasis throughout on maintaining a focus on the impact and role of international economic relations and on maintaining an internationally comparative perspective. In addition, the major includes courses in international business administration, international relations, and political science. Students completing this major often go on to careers in economic or political economic analysis within the international worlds of business, finance, or government. Others continue on to graduate studies in economics, business, international relations or law.

Graduates of the International Economics program will be able to:

Assess business facts and interpret them consistent with economic thinking.

Apply economic tools to analyze decisions made by consumers, firms, and policy makers.

Integrate economic models to analyze the impact of various fiscal monetary, and trade policies on a nation’s economy.

Required General Education Courses Credits: 36

AR222
Art History
3

The course is a survey of European painting, sculpture and architecture of the Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, and of the Romantic Realist and Impressionist periods. The course reviews distinct chronological and cultural periods. Students come to appreciate that art is not necessarily about the artist’s technical finesse, but it is about communicating an idea using visual language.

HI225
European History to 1815
3

The course provides a survey of European history from medieval era to 1815. This course familiarizes students with the mainline political, socio-economic and cultural development in this time period. Religious and military history is covered as well. It also shows students how Europe evolved from the fall of the Roman Empire through the Early Modern era. This course should provide students with general background material, serving as a compliment to their area of concentration or ad an introduction to further work in history or related fields.

MGF1107
College Mathematics
3

This course reviews basic math fundamentals and introduces the student to concepts what he or she will need in other University courses. This course reviews, reinforces and develops algebraic skills in problem solving as well as functions, analytical geometry, sequences and series and linear programming. As a review of real numbers, the student is presented with methodology to solve linear equations and functional linear applications. The course then moves on to maximization and minimization techniques and probability and statistics. .A variety of practical problems are also introduced.

MA172
Applied Mathematics
3

This course focuses on the reasoning and technical skills necessary for students to become proficient in applying the mathematical concepts and tools of calculus. This course emphasizes the applications of algebra to a variety of fields, including probability, statistics, and finance. It also covers mathematical modeling and set theory.

IR221
Introduction to international Relations
3

This course introduces students to the academic study of all aspects pertaining to the global states-system, the activities of non-state actors, and international organizations across national boundaries. As a branch of political science, International Relations concerns itself primarily with the affairs of the state, including its political systems and political actors. However, politics cuts across all the social sciences. International Relations involves not only philosophical and institutional matters, but also problems of economic, strategic, social, cultural and legal nature. Thus, the dominant feature of the course is presented as an interdisciplinary focus on the constellation of states and the myriad forms of global interdependence and interactions that exist. At center stage is the theoretical assumption of the sovereign equality of independent states. In addition, the study of International Relations as an academic discipline demands the ability to research and analyze sets of complex information from various sources. Hence, the course also aims to furnish entry level students with the terminology, concepts, tools, and confidence required to analyze the underlying course propositions in a more rigorous and systematic fashion. Through the study of concise historical themes, students are introduced to the key debates that function as evidence to bolster the rich academic literature on the subject. The course provides an overall view for understanding the basic origins of the present world system, the linkage between domestic and international politics, patterns of inter-state behavior, influences on foreign policies, and issues of the national interest.

SO137
Science and Society
3

This course looks at society as a whole through the lens of science and ethics. The course introduces the students to social concerns and advancements in technology in the following areas: nanotechnology, biotechnology, energy requirements, production, conservation, population growth, disease prevention, world food shortage, information technology and changing lifestyles and genetic engineering.

PSY1021
General Psychology
3

The course is an introduction to the scientific study of motivation, perception, meaning, learning, emotions, feelings and the psychological basis of behaviors. This course is meant to help students learn to think like a psychologist and to understand why scientific and critical thinking is so important to everything they do: from the decisions they make in their own lives to being wary of Internet scams, hoaxes and viral panics. The courses examines theories of personality and development, examining Freudian and post Freudian theories of personality, the way in which the brain, neurons and hormones affect psychological functioning, the basic principles of learning and the impact of social and culture on behavior, The course also shows how the mind, body and environment influence emotions, stress and health.

FR101, GE01, SP101
Beginning Foreign Language 1
3

This is a beginning course for students who wish to learn French. They will be introduced to basic grammar, vocabulary, phonetics and writing. Students will be able to participate simply, but consistently, in topics on everyday personal topics in the present time frame and to handle themselves in basic travel and social situations. By the end of the course the student will be able to manage everyday situations, maintain a simple conversation and read simple texts.

FR102, GE102, SP102
Beginning Foreign Language 2
3

This is the second of the beginning courses for students who wish to learn French. Using the same French method as FR 101, the course continues to develop the student’s ability to understand, speak and write in French. Students will be able to participate simply, but consistently, in conversations on everyday personal topics and to handle themselves in basic travel and social situations, among others. By the end of the course, students will be able to read non-complex texts and write short compositions.

EN111
English Composition: Expository Writing
3

The course is an overview of grammatical and syntactical elements, paragraphs and theme development. Expository writing is aimed to enhance students’ capacity to formulate, organize, and express thoughts logically, clearly and effectively. Students write short essays and read selected prose models.

EN112
English: Research and Writing
3

This course is an overview of grammatical and syntactical elements, paragraphs and thesis development used in academic writing. This course will emphasize academic writing and research. It is aimed to enhance students’ capacity to formulate, organize, and express thoughts logically, clearly and effectively using credible information sources. Students will prepare a significant research paper using a specific series of steps.

PS221
Introduction to Political Science
3

This course introduces students to the universal scope and methods of politics as either (a) an academic discipline, or (b) as an occupation. In practical terms, politics involves the skill, insight and astuteness of a leader or a state official engaged in politics as a career. As an academic field of study, it can be regarded partly as a social science and partly as an art. Although an individual can certainly combine both skills, it is common to our observation, that capability in one of the above does not necessarily imply success in the other. Many able politicians are unable to explain precisely why or how they do what they do. On the other hand, a great number of professional academics, skilled in the research and analysis of the operational mechanisms of the political system, would be a failure if they held political office. Since ancient times, the study and practice of politics has been concerned with power and effective forms of governance. But what seems to work in theory does not always work in practice. This course examines some of the core normative beliefs linked to democratic politics and the legitimate scope of authority upon which consensual power and allegiances rest. It challenges students to reflect on political inputs and outputs, the nature and functioning of institutions and rules, the aims of the same, and their ultimate capacity to promote human welfare and social stability. Students will approach these questions through the comparative study of a range of countries while applying the empirical principles, key concepts and the necessary theoretical frameworks associated with the science of politics.

Required Core Courses Credits:60

IT 103
Applications of Computers
3

This course acquaints students with the four major applications of computers in business: word processing, databases, spreadsheets and presentation software using Microsoft Office. The course concentrates ion the fundamentals as it is a “hands on” course. A basic view of the operational software, Windows and an introduction to Internet Explorer is also part of this course. The course finished with an introduction to web page creation.

BA 322
International Marketing
3

International marketing addresses global issues and describes concepts relevant to all international marketers, regardless of the extent of their international involvement. This course covers the entire range of international marketing, beginning with start-up operations, continuing with new market entry considerations, and concluding with the international issues confronting giant global marketers. Addresses the reality of the interchange between business and government by analyzing international marketing issues from both the business and policy perspective; integration of the societal dimensions of diversity, environmental concerns, ethics, and economic transformation.

BA 369
Introduction to Sustainable Development
3

This course studies the environmental, economic, and social dimensions of sustainable development. Empirical studies are combined with case studies to illustrate the multifaceted variables of sustainability that interface on a global scale. The course includes an examination of the patterns of consumption, production, and distribution of resources. Ethics and social responsibility are addressed.

BA 384
Behavioral Aspects
3

This course embraces organizational behavior. Organizational behavior is the multidisciplinary field that seeks knowledge of behavior in organizational settings by systematically studying individual, group, and organizational processes. This course focuses on group behavior and the leadership that is necessary to transform human resources into effective organizational entities. It is the subset of overall business administration and management, which emphasizes the theory and practice that relate to individuals interacting in the work environment.

EC 457
Economics of Developing Countries
3

This course aims to provide the student a first understanding of the economic development and actual problems of Third World countries. These findings will be linked with theories that try to explain the economic mal-development and with discussions of practical attempts to escape from its vicious circles. Specific problem areas are analyzed more in depth, among them: questions of population growth, capital demand, foreign trade imbalance, foreign investment, and the agrarian sector.

BA 370
Business Communication
3

This course introduces the student to the fundamental principles of business communication and prepares students for the communication challenges in the workplace. The course aims to improve the student’s ability to write well-organized, effective business messages, including letters, resumes, memorandums, and reports. Strategies and techniques will be analyzed for communicating in a range of typical business situations. This course includes writing and presentation practice.

BA 374
Statistics
3

This course provides an introduction to basic statistics. Students are expected to achieve a basic understanding of the methods of descriptive statistic summarizing data in various ways), the principles of statistical inference (constructing confidence intervals and performing hypothesis tests), and the underlying probability theory on which all inference rests. By the end of the course, students should be able to solve elementary problems using these techniques.

BA 401
Human Resources Management
3

All aspects of human resource management including how companies interact with the environment, acquire, prepare, develop, and compensate employees, and design and evaluate work, can help companies meet their competitive challenge and create value. Meeting challenges is necessary to create value and to gain a competitive advantage. This course familiarizes students with the activities of a human resources (HR) manager and the specific problems of managing a workforce in today’s competitive environment. The course addresses the global, new economy, stakeholder, and work system challenges that influence a company’s ability to successfully meet the needs of the shareholders, customer, employees, and other stakeholders.

EC 452
Resources and the Environment
3

The focus of this course is an in-depth look at the distribution, allocation, and consumption of both renewable and non-renewable resources, as well as the evaluation of the potential environmental problems which can subsequently arise across the globe. Solving current environmental problems can most likely only be achieved by collective action. Examples of issues that will be looked at are: the changing patterns in resource development, the issues of private producer control vs. state-owned enterprises, and the impact of future markets on resource prices and allocations.

IR 470
International Economic Policies & Institutions
3

This course combines the excitement of world events and the incisiveness of economic analysis. It introduces and critically explores the principal international economic institutions and policies created during and after WWII, the so-called Bretton Woods system. The roles, interests, and functions of the principal private and public players in the development and elaboration of modern financial and political institutions will be critically examined: The World Bank Group and United Nations Development Group, including the International Monetary Fund, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, and such successor institutions as the World Trade Organization. The role global and regional economic and financial institutions play in the maintenance of the Post WWII interstate system of mutual self-interest and interdependence will be critically evaluated in the context of competing national and international interests in achieving such UN Millennium Development goals as the “Eradication of Poverty” .

BA 439
International Business Policy
3

This course takes an In-depth look at the multinational corporation as it operates and competes in the international business environment. The emphasis on organizational and administrative policies of the multinational company and their development and importance of structuring these aspects of the corporation to suit the international environment in which it operates. Examines the development of the functional skills of planning, financing, marketing and personnel management unique to the international company. The analysis of major international organizations provides current information on how these companies operate and relate theory to actual practices.

CA497
Capstone
3

A capstone course is required of all bachelor degree candidates. The Capstone is a multi-disciplinary course designed by the student, approved by an Academic Counselor, and completed The course examines the strategic process and implementation of successful strategies in the highly competitive and dynamic global environment. Analyzes the impact of technology, government policy, and world economic and political forces on strategy formulation and execution. This course is the capstone course for the programs. Analytic, integrative, and decision-making skills will be exercised through the use of case analysis and decision making that will involve the core business functions, leadership challenges, and global operations.

GEB 1350
Introduction to International Business
3

This course is developed to help students become better employees, more informed consumers, and/or more successful business owners in an international environment. The course is designed to help students understand the various aspects of the global business environment including organizational administration, employment opportunities available in a career in business as well as what is required to be a successful employee including the knowledge, skills and abilities to work in a culturally diverse, global workforce. Interpersonal, analytical, technical and conceptual skills necessary to be successful managers are reviewed. Some discussion around small business owners and entrepreneurship is introduced in this course. A basic understanding of international business will help students invest in the future and become informed consumers by analyzing issues such as financial structures and financing, stocks, mutual funds and other alternatives to investing in the global business environment. Other topics addressed in this course include patterns of international trade and multinational business operations.

MAR 2011
Principles of Marketing
3

Top marketers share a common goal: putting the consumer at the heart of the market. Today’s marketing is about creating customer value and building profitable customer relationships This course introduces students to the concept and techniques of marketing in the business setting. Marketing starts with understanding consumer needs and wants, determining which target markets the organization can best serve, and developing a compelling value proposition by which the organization can attract and grow valued customers. The course provides practical examples and applications, showing the major decisions that marketing manager’s face day to day.

ECO 2013
Principles of Microeconomics
3

This course will explore individual economic choices and how markets coordinate the choices of various decision makers. Microeconomics explains how price and quantity are determined in individual markets. Economists use scientific analysis to develop theories or models that explain economic behavior. Throughout the course the concern will be in developing an economic relation that can be expressed in words, represented as a table of quantities, described by a mathematical equation or illustrated by a graph. The course will introduce various market systems, public policy and how the market affects international economics in terms of international trade, international finance and economic development.

ECO 2023
Principles of Macroeconomics
3

This course will explore the performance of the economy as a whole. Whereas microeconomics studies the individual pieces, macroeconomics puts all the pieces together to look at the big picture. Throughout the course the concern will be in developing an economic relation that can be expressed in words, represented as a table of quantities, described by a mathematical equation or illustrated by a graph. The course will examine the fundamental of macroeconomics, fiscal and monetary policy, and international economics.

EC 352
Economic Geography
3

This course examines the economic activity and production as a function of geographical location. It uses economic models to explain how economic activities are located, looks at primary, secondary, and tertiary production; services; a comparative analysis of global demography; rise and roles of the city and the metropolis; effects of technology; national, regional and strategic political and commercial alignments and realignments; natural resources; less developed, more developed and developing countries, core and periphery, multinational cooperation and the global village.

ACG 2001
Accounting I
3

Accounting is called the language of business because all organizations set up an accounting information system to communicate data to help people make better decisions. This course deals with basic accounting such as analyzing, recording and processing transactions. Ethics is also included.

EN200
Cross-Cultural Communication
3

This course will explore the different cultural norms at play when people interact. It is an introduction to the various factors which affect communication, particularly in an international context. The course will explore the relationship between the discipline of cultural anthropology, its central concept of culture and the conduct of global business. The course will present a number of different models for understanding cultural differences, including contrasting values and metaphors to help students appreciate how people from different cultures view the world from the perspective of their own cultural assumptions and how culture affects thinking and behavior. Emphasis is placed on building and maintains relationships through verbal and nonverbal communication. The course will also examine three functional processes critical to success in conducting global business: negotiating, partnering and managing.

Elective Courses:24

ACG 2011
Accounting II
3

Accounting is called the language of business because all organizations set up an accounting information system to communicate data to help people make better decisions. This course deals with in-depth discussion of long-lived assets, bonds, stockholders’ equity, etc.; and introduces cost accounting concepts, analysis of financial statements, and income taxes. Ethics is also included.

HI226
European History- Napoleonic Period to Present
3

The course provides a survey of European history from Napoleonic Period to Present. This course familiarizes students with the mainline political, socio-economic and cultural development in this time period. Religious and military history is covered as well. It also shows students how Europe evolved from the fall of the Roman Empire through the Early Modern era. This course should provide students with general background material, serving as a compliment to their area of concentration or ad an introduction to further work in history or related fields.

BA 261
Principles of Business Law
3

The law consists of rules that regulate the conduct of individual, business and other organizations in society. This course is designed to give general coverage of the fundamental principles of business law. The course is designed to acquaint the student with areas of law in business such as personal business ventures. This course also addresses business ethics, e-commerce, regulatory and international issues.

BA 341
Business Finance
3

This course is designed to build on your basic knowledge of accounting and economics to develop a conceptual and analytical understanding of financial management. The course focuses on financial management within small and medium sized organizations with an emphasis on current problems of finance. The recession and liquidity crisis that engulfed the U.S. and world economies in the latter part of the 2000-2009 decade are addressed. Special attention is given to the banking sector and the critical need to find funding that almost all businesses face. Ethics is also addressed.

BA 439
International Business Policy
3

This course takes an in-depth look at the multinational corporation as it operates and competes in the international business environment. The emphasis on organizational and administrative policies of the multinational company and their development and importance of structuring these aspects of the corporation to suit the international environment in which it operates. Examines the development of the functional skills of planning, financing, marketing ad personnel management unique to the international company. The analysis of major international organizations provides current information on how these companies operate and relate theory to actual practices.

IR 331 **
Modern Diplomacy
3

This course will seek to identify and define major trends and developments in diplomacy in the modern era. US President Ronald Reagan averred that, although “politics is the second oldest profession [;] I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first”. In other words, espionage (politics, diplomacy) is second as a profession only to prostitution in the popular imagination to which President Reagan refers. Whether modern diplomacy starts with the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 and the subsequent international treatises recognizing the sovereignty of states, or whether it starts with the Congress of Vienna in 1815 following the Napoleonic Wars, or with the 14 points of US President Woodrow Wilson following the First World War and the Covenant of the League of Nations will be questions this course interrogates. Modern diplomacy is often defined in terms of “Open covenants of peace, openly arrived at, after which there shall be no private international understandings of any kind but diplomacy shall proceed always frankly and in the public view” (point 1 of Wilson’s 14). This does not mean that the general public should be privy to international negotiations between states and, often, behind closed doors; rather, it means that the voting public, the “sovereign” in democratic states, must be consulted. In other words, modern diplomacy aims to be inclusive, non-discriminatory, transparent, and just. If its heritage lies in espionage, its future lies in full public disclosure. Every state — no matter how small or poor, large or rich — ought to be equal before the international conventions that govern their interaction. This course will explore and scrutinize the emergence of the international conventions that progressively codify diplomatic relations between states in the modern period and give way to modern — inclusive and popular — diplomacy.

IR 481
Selected Topics in International Relations
3

This course is designed to allow a thorough evaluation and analysis on a specific institution e.g. European Union, NAFTA, Mercosur; a region of the world e.g. Middle East, Africa, South East, South America; or on a topic such as global terrorism, global inequality and poverty, global crime, globalization of disease, or weapons proliferation.

PSY 376
Industrial Psychology
3

This course is an introduction to the main concepts in psychology applicable to “industry” and “employment.” Industrial/organizational psychology is the science of people at work and it is the application of psychological principles of organizational and work settings. In 2010, the U.S. Department of Labor listed industrial/organizational psychology as one of the most rapidly growing occupations. Many topics are covered in this class, ranging from methods of hiring employees to theories of how organizations work. The course is concerned with helping organizations get the most from their employees as well as helping organizations take care of employee health, safety and well-being.

IR 353 **
The Political Economy of North-South Relations
3

The profound and increasing economic divide between North and South will be examined within historical, political, economic, social, and environmental perspectives. Particular attention will be given to investment and trade condition, population, urbanization, poverty and uneven development, the implications of the debt crisis, and social and political instability..

FR201, GE201, SP201*Int Foreign Language 1
3

This course aims at giving students an intermediate level in spoken and written French, German, or Spanish. They are taught complex grammar and vocabulary, reinforced with the use of audio and video to improve their listening comprehension. *Option of Intermediate Foreign Language 1 OR any 200-400 level Elective.

FR202, GE202, SP202*Int Foreign Language 2
3

This course aims at giving students an upper intermediate level in spoken and written French, German, or Spanish. They are taught complex grammar and vocabulary, reinforced with the use of films to improve their listening comprehension. *Option of Intermediate Foreign Language 2 OR any 200-400 level Elective.

EN 490
Intercultural Communication
3

This course addresses the ways in which social structuring, social assumptions, and intercultural language usage bears on interactions between members of different cultures. This course is the culmination of foundational principles presented in the core General Education coursework expressed in terms of intercultural contexts. The emphasis is on interdisciplinary activities in the fields of communication, sociology, psychology, technology, and research. Students employ critical thinking and analytical skills to evaluate and integrate diverse ideas within various cultural backgrounds.

BA 427
Marketing Management
3

Strategic marketing management concepts and their application. Includes the critical role of marketing in organizational performance, market-oriented strategic planning, the application of online marketing and the development of marketing programs.

IR 335 **
American Foreign Policy
3

This course traces the history, evolution, and implementation of American foreign policy. 19th-century doctrines of isolationism and exceptionalism will be explored and scrutinized against the backdrop of such expansionist programs as “manifest destiny”. From the “Monroe Doctrine” and the “Roosevelt Corollary” to the “Truman Doctrine” as well as subsequent and intermittent articulations of presidential prerogative (the lesser-known doctrines of preceding and succeeding US presidents), students will learn to identify and assess the consistencies and inconsistencies in the historical narrative of the rise of the US to a major world power in the early 20th century to a super power following WWII. The role the US has played and plays in the global arena will be extensively explored with an eye to the future course will also explore geopolitical variables (e.g., climate change, demography, natural resources) in light of their impact issues related to national and collective security.

IR 341 **
Concepts of International Relations
3

This course critically addresses concepts and approaches in international relations and diplomacy such as state sovereignty, state and non-state actors, interests, and levels of analysis as well as such themes and theories as globalization, cultural and economic imperialism, or neocolonialism, hegemony, complex interdependence and other related topics. The role of international public law in fostering interstate regimes and such treaties as the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations in codifying interstate relations will also be addressed. Against the backdrop of such international relations paradigms as realism, liberalism, structuralism and constructivism, the.

EC 310
Intermediate Economic Theory
3

Building directly on examines n more depth some of the important areas of both micro-and macroeconomics that are important to students of economics, business and public administration. The micro section focuses on the theory of the firm and pricing with emphasis on competitive, and on factor markets. The macro section focuses on the analysis of aggregate supply and demand and fiscal policies. International competition and interdependencies are stress throughout.

EC 363
Law and Finance in Relation to International Trade
3

Financial and legal issues arising in the operation of international trade.

EC 454
Monetary Theory and Comparative Banking Systems
3

The fundamentals of modern monetary theory analyzed within the context of stabilization policies. History and functioning of modern banking systems looking at the US. German, Japan and other nations. Emphasis on examining these banking systems, the supply/demand for money and the determination of interest rates in the international context. International cooperation in monetary policy is examined.

EC/IR 456
The European Union
3

Introduces students to the economic, political and social forces that have combined, within Europe, over the last 50 years, to produce the political entity now called the European Union.

Total Credits: (** Required if taking the Roehampton Degree)120

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